Tensioning means for loom warp beams



March 3, 1953 R. M. TAYLOR TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1951 Fig.

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INVENTOR.

March 3, 1953 R. M. TAYLOR 2,630,141

TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS Filed Aug. 29, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fi 3. Fig. 4.

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48 48 44 Ray M. Taylor INVENTOR.

/40 38 BY Mam Patented Mar. 3, 1 953 TENSIONING MEANS FOR LooM WARP BEAMS t a t Ray M. Taylor, Quakertown, Pa.

Application August 29, 1951, S erial No. 244,154

4 Claimsh (Cl. 139100) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a tensioning means for loom warp beams and more specifically relates to a friction brake tensi-oning mechanism for the warp beam of a loom.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide a tensioning means for loom warp beams which shall maintain a constant tension upon the warp ends throughout the entire operation of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tensioning means in accordance with the preceding object which shall give a uniform pressure over substantially the entire surface of the warp beam.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism in accordance with the preceding objects wherein a friction brake applied to the head of a warp beam Will be automatically released if greater than a predetermined tension is applied to the warp ends during operation of the loom.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism which will maintain a uniform tension upon the warp threadsregardless of whether the warp beam is substantially full or substantially empty of the warp threads.

The final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a self-adjusting tensioning mechanism for loom warp beams which shall be readily adjustable for different diameters of beam heads; and wherein the-tension may be readily varied for different looms as required.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a tensioning mechanism which will equally distribute the frictional pressure of a friction brake over the entire beam head surface. The mechanism in accordance with this invention attains this purpose by pulling in a reverse direction to the natural takeup motion as the weaving occurs. Because of the leverage action of the actuating mechanism of the friction brake assembly, a uniform friction brake pressure is applied over the entire circumferential area of the beam head.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of mechanism wherein a uniform restarting of'the '100m in the customary heavy or overheat mark; commonly known in the art as heavy starting marks. In the present invention, thi's' disadvantage is overcome because the tension is increased in thewarpends as the loom starts, but is decreased in the warp ends when the loom stops because the friction between the friction brake and warp beam i s 'released upon stopping of the loomb 7' The still further feature ofthe invention resides in arranging the friction brake band upon the loom beam end with the opening between the ends of the brake band preferably located at an angle of about to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the beam end.-

Still another feature of the invention resides in the arrangemnt of a set of weightsone set of weights serving to maintain a uniform closing pressure upon the brake band'to cause the same to friotionally engage the warp beam head of a loom, while the other weightserves to apply a constant force to the brake band for importing a predetermined frictional drag to the warp beam head to thereby maintain a uniform tension on the warp beam ends thereon.

The foregoing, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention are attained by the present invention, the preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: t

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a warp beam of a loom showing the tensionin'g device in accordance withthis invention applied. thereto, parts being broken away and shown in section; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a brake band assembly forming apart of the tensioning means of this invention, the same being shown clisassociated from a warp beam head of a loom;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing a normal position of the tensioning mechanism in vertical transverse section substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 5- -5of Figure 1; 1 l Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail view taken sectionline P8 of Figure 5; and,

substantially upon; the plane indicated by the tached thereto by suitable rivets 3B.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 1-! of Figure 2.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it is seen that the reference numeral l designates the warp beam of a loom which has an axle I 2 and suitable supporting brackets l4 forming a part of the framework of a loom.

This warp beam is provided with the custom.- ary warp beam heads l6 and ropes or pulleys and a tensioning mechanism in accordance with this invention is applied to each of these heads in order to impart the predetermined tension to the warp threads 18, see Figures 3 and i, which are secured to the warp beam. The purpose and functioning of a tensioning mechanism for warp beams is well-known to those skilled in the art,

and a detailed explanation of the same is bea lieve d-to be unnecessary. The improved tensioning mechanism in accordance with this invention consists of an arcuate friction brake, which as shown in the drawings includes an inner friction brake lining 28 of any suitable material which as shown in Figure '7 is attached to a steel outer band 22 as by-rivets 24. A strap 23 of any suitable material is disposed about the exterior surface of the steel band 22, one end of this strap being secured to an end of the inner band 2d and 1 the steel band 22 as by a fastening bracket 28 at The inner and outer members 2e and 22, at their other ends have secured thereto a second bracket 32 by rivets or fasteners 35. V

v The friction band assembly previously described is adapted to encircle the warp beam end l6 and frictionally embrace the same for applying a. frictional drag thereto. Obviously by regulating the extent of this frictional drag or braking action any desired tension may be maintained upon the warp threads it as the latter are let out from the warp beam during operation of the loom.

The brake actuating means, as shown best in a rod 44 has one end fastened as by a pivot pin Mt between thepair of lugs d8 carried by the bracket 28, and its other externally threaded end 50 is screW-threadedly engaged in a diametrical bore in a retaining pin 52. The rod it is received between the bifurcated end portions of end 36 of the lever, and the pin 52 is journalled in the furcations as will be readily apparent from Figures and 6.

By virtue of the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 5, it will be apparent that moving the lever 34 downwardly about its pivot pin 38 will serve to pull-the two adjacent'ends of the friction brake bands closer together thereby causing the brake bands to more tightly embrace and increase their frictional drag upon the beam head 16. Reverse movement of the lever will of course tend to expand the bands and decrease the frictional braking effect upon the heads.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, the identical 4 tensioning friction brake assembly is applied to each end of the warp beam to the heads I6 thereof.

The warp tensioning weight indicated generally by the numeral 54 is oper-atively connected to the member 26 for applying the tensioning force, to the friction brake assembly to the warp beam heads Hi to thereby tension the warp threads l8. For that purpose, there is provided .a fulcrum or supporting bracket 56 having a lever 58 pivoted thereto as by a pivot pin 63. This lever at its extremity is provided with a plurality of notches 62, upon which the weight 54 may be selectively engaged by the hook member 64. Intermediate the ends of the lever 58, the free end of the member 26 is folded in the form of a loop 66. A clamp consisting of a pair of plates 68 and 10, secured together by bolts 12 is provided for maintaining the end of the member 26 in tight engagement upon the lever 58. If desired, one or both of the plates 68 may be serrated or notched as at it in Figure 2.

In normal operation, the length of the member is such that the weights 54 will be above the floor or the supporting surface and thereby impart a uniform force to the end of the member at and thereby a uniform frictional drag to the brake assembly to the warp beam ends It.

The brake weight member indicated generally by the numeral 15 is secured by any desired clamping device 78 to a loop 89 at the lower end of the cable 82 whose upper end is provided with a loop 3%, retained as by a clamping device 86, this upper loop being selectively placed in one of the notches 62 of the lever 3 It will be particularly noted that the warp tensioning cable or member 26 is disposed on the opposite side of the warp beam axle l2 of the brake tensioning cable 82.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The running off of the warp threads [8 from the warp beam during operation of the loom causes the clockwise rotation of the warp beam as viewed in Figures 3 and 4. The brake weight '56 which normally rests upon the floor applies a force movement to the actuating lever 34 to the friction brakeassembly which movement is in the same direction of rotation as that applied by the warp threads 58 as the latter are let off of the warp beam. Since the weight 54 is normally off of the floor, the member 26 is under a tension corresponding to the weight 54, the

tension of the member 26 tending to rotate the assembly in a. counterclockwise direction.

The tension weight 5% thus produces a force moment which is of the opposite direction to the moment produced by the warp threads l8 'upon the warp beam. The moment of the tension weight is thus oppositely directed to that of the brake actuating weight.

The brake actuating weight it thus imparts a constant bias acting through the brake member 34 which tends to contract the brake band .with a constant force and thereby tends to main tain a constant friction or drag of the brake assembly upon the warp beam head. Through this drag the weight tends to oppose rotation of the warp beam and thereby maintains a tension upon the warp threads which is constant and which corresponds to the weight 54. However, if the brake assembly is too tightly clamped upon the warp beam head, and tends to rotate with the latter, this rotation will move the actuating lever 34 in a clockwise direction, this movement being shown, in exaggerated fashion in Figure 4. In response to this movement, the tension of the cable 82 is relieved whereby the brake band assembly is expanded, and the pull on the end of the member 26 attached to the bracket 25 further serves to hold the brake band assembly at its upper end as shown in Figure a. This motion lifts the frictional drag of the assembly and thereby lessens the tension upon the warp threads.

By the foregoing a constant self-adjusting tension is maintained upon the warp beam ends and thereby upon the warp threads.

By comparing Figures 3 and 4 it Will be seen that with the loom in normal operation the pivot pin 38 of the bracket 32 lies upon the radius 86 which is inclined with respect to the vertical radius 88 by an angle indicated at 92. However, when the tension upon the warp threads become too great, or exceeds that for which the device has been set, the brake band assembly tends to rotate with the warp beam head, this pivot pin moves to a radius indicated at 95 and which defines an angle 94 with the radius 38, this angle being obviously less than the angle 92.

It will be further observed that by means of the adjustable connecting rod 44 joining the two ends of the brake band assembly, that a uniform circumferentially and peripherally extending tension can be applied throughout the entire brake band to cause the same to uniformly irictionally grip the surface of the drum.

In this device, when the operation of the loom ceases, there is no altering in the clockwise moment applied to the beam head by the letting off of the warp ends therefrom, and consequently the weight 54 of the member 26 is now free to cause the counterclockwise moment of the end of the brake band assembly to which the bracket 28 is attached, this moment tending to move the parts from the position shown in Figure 3 to a position somewhat similar to that in Figure l. During this moment, an upward thrust is imparted to the rod 44 which tends to liftthe bracket 32 and the connecting rod 44 therewith, this resulting in a relative clockwise rotation of the lever 34 about the pivot 38 to thereby loosen the brake bands assembly and release or at least reduce the tension upon the warp end threads thereon. Thus. when the loom is idle, the tension upon the warp threads is reduced to that upon starting of the loom tension is again increased.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A tensioning device for a loom warp beam comprising a friction brake band adapted to embrace a loom warp beam head with its ends in spaced relation, brake actuating means engaging said brake band ends for varying the frictional gripping force of said band upon a beam head, a warp tension weight, means connecting said warp tension weight to said brake band for exerting pull opposite to that of the warp threads, a brake weight, means connecting the latter to the brake actuating means for applying force to said brake actuating means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weights are on opposite sides of the axis of the Warp beam.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said brake actuating means includes an operating lever having one end pivoted to one brake band end, means connecting the other end of said brake band to said operating lever adjacent said one end thereof, said brake weight connecting means being secured to said operating lever adjacent its other end.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means connecting the warp tension weight comprises a lever fulcrumed at one end, said warp tension weight being adjustably secured to the other end of said lever, a member connecting said lever to said brake band.

RAY M. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,537,604 Hannigan May 12,. 1925 1,651,334 Mintel Nov. 29, 1927 1,951,967 Demers Mar. 20, 1934 2,586,116 Taylor Feb. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 508,060 Great Britain June 19, 1939, 

